Entertainment Editor-at-Large, Los Angeles

With five prestigious international award nominations to her name, Australia's acclaimed drama The Slap has won the approval of critics worldwide but has yet again been denied the big prize.

At the 40th annual International Emmy Awards, The Slap was defeated in the drama category by the French drama, Braquo.

It was The Slap's fifth international award nomination. The series, which starred Melissa George, Jonathan LaPaglia and Alex Dimitriades, has already chalked up nominations at the BAFTAs, the Monte Carlo Television Festival, the BANFF World Media Festival and from The Royal Television Society in the UK.

Local glamour fronts International Emmys

Braquo, which stars Jean-Hugues Anglade and has drawn comparisons to the US series The Shield, took the award in the drama category.

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Meanwhile, The Amazing Race Australia won the International Emmy in the non-scripted entertainment category.

The show defeated several challengers in the non-scripted entertainment category, including the iconic Spanish show El Hormiguero, which was nominated in the same category for two years running without a win.

A third possible award for Australia, for Absolutely Fabulous producer Justin Davies, did not fall our way. Though the 20th anniversary season of Absolutely Fabulous went into the competition a favourite, it was beaten by the Brazilian series A Mulher Invisível ("The Invisible Woman").

A number of Australians were in attendance at the awards, including Davies, The Slap's producer Tony Ayres and its star, Melissa George.

Australian actress Rachael Taylor was also at the event at New York's Hilton Hotel. Taylor, whose US series 666 Park Avenue was cancelled by US network ABC this week, presented the best television movie or miniseries category.

A total of 38 nominees from 15 countries in nine categories were in line for awards on the night.

The Argentinian drama Televisión por la Inclusión was one of the major winners on the night, taking out best actor and best actress awards.

The series, which as won a string of awards in Latin America, is an anthology of individual stories exploring social justice issues such as discrimination and inequality.

The 2012 Founders Award was given to Glee and American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy. The award was presented to Murphy by actress Jessica Lange, who stars in American Horror Story.

Other recipients of special Emmy awards include Korean broadcasting executive Dr Kim In-Kyu, the American actor/director Alan Alda and writer/producer Norman Lear.

The International Emmy awards are connected to the annual "primetime" Emmy awards, although they are only open to programs produced outside the US.

They are voted on by juries composed of television industry professionals around the world.